(Cacao poem) Embark on a journey into the world of cacao

Embark on a journey into the world of cacao, from its ancient traditions to the cup of cacao sitting before you today. 🤎

The cacao tree grows in the 20/20 zone
the belt that runs 20 degrees north and south of the Equator
it belongs to the mallow family, along with kola, hibiscus, and cotton
the tree can grow up to 10 meters tall
it is observed to prefer shade, high humidity, and the company of other plants
such as banana, mango, papaya, and rubber trees
it is observed to prefer rainforest areas with high biodiversity
the tree produces small, long-stemmed, white and pink clusters of flowers
which almost look like some kind of attack along the branches
they are not pollinated by bees, but by flies
the beans grow in large, elongated pods
which turn reddish, orange, or purple when they ripen
they are cut from the tree with a machete
between 40 and 50 beans are shelled
and placed on mats
the beans dry in the sun and ferment in their own skin
before being crushed into powder

cacao is not cocoa, because cacao is not a Western concept
not something we know in its original form
cacao distances itself from the commercial and approaches the original
in Aztec, the plant is known as cacaua
in Mayan: kakaw
cacao is our transcription of thousands of years old names
we have added theobroma, which means food of the gods in Latin
as a form of translation of cacao's meaning
in the West, we often name things by function
among the indigenous peoples of South and Central America
cacao was used as a food, as currency, and for rituals
the plant was a physical, economic, and spiritual foundation
in the Mayan creation myth, humanity is created on the Mountain of Sustenance
partly from cacao

after colonization, Spaniards and Portuguese became acquainted with the plant
they referred to it as pepe de oro, golden seeds
or oro negro, black gold
they referred to it as an intoxicant
which the natives used to reach higher states
but cacao is not psychedelic, it is psychoactive
it can activate our inner self
provide easier access to ourselves and our emotions
feel and amplify the state that is already there
the beans were loaded onto ships and transported to Europe
presented to Europeans, with European palates
raw cacao was found to be inedible
so they tried to tame its taste
roasted the beans, added sugar and fat
and created chocolate
an exclusive indulgence, a sought-after delicacy
that gained popularity
knowledge of cacao's original properties was lost
as the substance was mixed
through the Enlightenment, where a sharp distinction began to be made between food and medicine
and the two fields developed separate literatures

chocolate became part of industrialization
along with sugarcane plantations and the invention of powdered milk
this created the basis for sweeter and cheaper recipes
and marked the final transformation
from significant cacao to insignificant, cocoa-containing product
the cocoa sector is today one of the world's most problematic industries
both climatically and socially
the majority of the world's cocoa cultivation takes place
today in West Africa, Indonesia, and Ecuador
while Europeans and North Americans account for 70% of consumption
there is an unequal relationship between the many cocoa farmers
and the few, multinational corporations that control the global supply chain
the cheap price of cocoa leaves cocoa farmers with an almost non-existent income
forcing them to hire family members and children for low wages
which, combined with the harshness of the work, gives cocoa cultivation low status in local communities
children of cocoa farmers are often taken out of school and sent to work in cocoa plantations
where they are exposed to unprotected handling of pesticides
because families cannot find labor
it happens that children are kidnapped and forced to work in plantations against their will

cocoa is not cacao, because cacao does not compel, but calls
the myths say that a goddess lives in the plant
that she calls
when it is time to open ourselves to love on a deeper level
that her love is unconditional, like a mother's
and therefore she is called Mama Cacao
she stands for love and fertility
she supports us in working with ourselves
lets us practice
lets us lean into her
open up to what we suppress
cacao is her way of giving herself to us
thanks to the indigenous cultures that have preserved her
therefore every sip must also be a thank you
to the myths and history
the sacred and the ancient
the action and the actions
that the indigenous people have upheld
and which we must honor with humility and respect
by spreading the story, and seeing science
as part of a motive

we know that cacao's active substances complement the myths
that heart opening occurs physically and mentally
when blood flow increases
by a very small fraction of caffeine
and the alkaloid 2-phenylethylamine maximizes our alertness and concentration
we know it from the feeling of being completely engrossed
that the neurotransmitter anandamide strengthens memory
reduces pain
and is found in the uterus in concentrated form
from the beginning of pregnancy and throughout the first trimester
while the substances N-linoleoylethanolamine and N-oleoylethanolamine slow down anandamide's breakdown
the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine enable us to form neurotransmitters
serotonin, we recognize as joy
dopamine, we recognize as motivation
melatonin, which regulates our circadian rhythm
monoamine oxidase inhibitors ensure that neurotransmitters remain in the bloodstream for longer
just like they do in children
antioxidants protect our circulation
and the trace minerals magnesium, zinc, and selenium alleviate stress conditions in the body
especially magnesium ensures that our nervous system functions as it should
that muscles can contract and relax correctly
and that energy production is maintained

but because agricultural land is depleted
magnesium content in fruits, vegetables, and grains falls
all while a stressed body consumes more magnesium
no one seems to know exactly why
but it is believed to be the reason why so many are deficient
that it should be seen as a hidden pandemic
masked under other global ailments
since the symptoms vary so greatly

cacao makes its love physical
to help us help ourselves and each other
in collaboration
with the stories and mysteries
that continue to grow through the earth's bodies

Cacao poem written by Sophia Handler